Wabash River counties keeping watchful eye on swollen stream

Flooding on lower stem not expected to be severe

A tired Tiffany White talks about the volunteer effort to protect the Dresser Church from the rising waters of the Wabash River in Dresser Ind. Monday April 22, 2013. Her husband Buddy pastors the small independent church. (AP Photo/Tribune-Star, Jim Avelis)

POSEY COUNTY, Ind. - A flood warning is in effect for several counties along the Wabash River, but emergency officials in Gibson and Posey aren't expecting any widespread problems because of the swollen river.

The Wabash, according to National Weather Service predictions, is not expected to crest until Monday evening at New Harmony. Current weather service estimates have the river reaching 20.6 feet before receding, which is about five feet above flood stage.

Larry Robb, the director of the Posey County emergency management agency, said he does not expect any sandbags will be needed to combat the floodwaters in his county. He noted that he expects some roads will have to be closed in New Harmony and Griffin and that some have already been closed in Point Township, another frequently flooded area. Luckily, he said, the Ohio River is not close to flooding so for now the extra water in the Wabash has somewhere to go.

"What's encouraging is that the Ohio River at the JT Myers Lock and Dam, that's the point I like to monitor, is not predicted to go to flood stage," Robb said. "Flood stage at the lock and dam is 37 feet, and the most they're looking at is maybe 34 feet. That's good for us because it will allow the Wabash to drain quicker."

The flood warning also includes Gibson County in Indiana and Gallatin, Wabash and White counties in Illinois. A warning has also been issued for Pike County, Ind., because of similar concerns about the White River. That river is scheduled to crest at Petersburg on Friday and at Hazleton, which is in Gibson County, on Sunday.

With minor flooding still predicted, Robb took time Tuesday to remind motorists of an often unheeded warning: Don't travel through flooded streets.

"We strongly encourage people not to drive through any floodwaters," Robb said. "If they can't see the road, they shouldn't drive through it."